India is a versatile land when it comes to housing various religions, castes and communities. We all know how the country boosts a harmony of all sorts of religion and their rituals and all of it co exists here peacefully. And when we talk about Kolkata it is even a notch higher. Here you will find people belonging to various communities practicing their own beliefs and co-existing peacefully. One such example of religious harmony is the presence of Chinese Kali Temple. Located in the Tangra area which is popular as China Town, this Kali Temple is an important site of pilgrimage. Moreover both for the Chinese people as well as the Bengalis residing in the region the temple holds a lot of importance. The amalgamation of the cultures and yet the performing of the rituals here makes this temple one of the unique temples in the city.
So if you are in Kolkata willing to explore the different shade of the city then you must visit the Chinese Kali Temple Kolkata once. After paying a visit to this temple you would start believing in the concept of Unity in Diversity even more. Also from the history to the architecture and construction everything about this temple is worth exploring. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you probably need to know about the Chinese Kali Temple in Kolkata. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to this temple in Kolkata. You must plan a visit here to pay your offerings to the Goddess Kali when you are in Kolkata.
Chinese Kali Temple
Location: Matheswartala Road, Tangra, Kolkata, West Bengal
Location on Map :
Timings: 5 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 10:30 pm
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to Reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. From the airport the temple is located at a distance of 17.2 km. It would take you around 47 minutes to reach there from the airport. It would be most convenient to take a cab or a car to reach there from the airport. Or else you can take buses as well to reach the Kali Temple.
By train
While travelling in a train the Sealdah Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach the Kali temple. From the station the temple is 4 km away. You can easily reach the Chinese Kali Temple from the station in about 15 minutes. The Howrah railway station is yet another major railway station to reach the Chinese temple. From there the temple is 10 km away and you can easily reach there in about 35 minutes. From the railway stations you can either take buses or else you can take a cab or a yellow taxi as well to reach the temple conveniently.
By road
You can opt for the city buses to reach the temple here from different parts of the city. Or you can opt for the yellow taxis or take the cabs as well to reach the Chinese Kali Temple.
Overview of Chinese Kali Temple
The name of this temple in itself describes how unique the foundation of this temple can be. After all, Goddess Kali is a powerful Hindu Goddess. And when it comes to the term Chinese just before a Kali Temple it reflects the diversified culture of Kolkata as well as India. When you look at the Kali Temple here at first it would look like any other Kali temple in the city. However as you go closer you will be able to spot some unique and unusual diversions here. The ceiling of this temple has a painting of an eagle on it along with a Chinese dragon. Even the backdrop of the idol here has Chinese motifs in addition to Om Symbol. Between the arches outside the temple you will find a bi lingual board that reads Chinese Kali Temple.
At present the Chinese Temple is a two arched granite face structure. It has an old tree around with a black stone as the base. The Goddess of this temple is a powerful one and thousands of people visit here to offer their prayers. Every day the pujas are offered here at 9:30 am in the morning and at 7 pm in the evening. It follows up with the distribution of Bhog on selected days. Moreover another special thing about the temple is the Chinese Kali Temple Prasad here. After the puja, the bhog Prasad here includes Noodles, Ramen, Chop Suey and Chinese Rice. This is one such unique aspect of this temple which you cannot find anywhere else in the country.
History of Chinese Kali Temple
The Chinese Kali Temple in Kolkata is located at the only Chinatown of India in Tangra. It reflects the cultural amalgamation as well as the symphony of cultures. The construction of the temple goes back to around 70 years ago. Previously the local Hindus used to worship a stone under a tree which they had decorated with sindoor and bel leaves.
However, according to beliefs, about 6 decades ago a Chinese boy fell sick and was not responding to any treatments. Furthermore, extremely worried, his parents rushed him to this altar made of two black stones under a tree. They worshipped the stone as a reincarnation of Goddess Kali. After they offered puja at the altar the boy gradually recovered from the deadly disease and responded to treatments. As a token of gratitude later they built a Kali Temple at the same location which later became popular as the Chinese Kali Temple. However the black stone and the tree on top of a base are still there inside the temple.
The shrine however expanded over time as all the Kolkata Chinese residents donated to get a permanent structure of this temple about 30 years back in 1998. The puja rituals at the temple are followed on the basis of strict Vedic rules. Also this temple further houses a Narayan Shila as well because of which the Bhog here is strictly vegetarian. The local Chinese people regularly visit this temple to offer their prayers here. They burn Chinese incense sticks and burn handmade papers as done in the churches.
What’s more?
Majority of the people residing in the Chinatown of Tangra, practice Buddhism and Christianity. But even in the midst of that this temple is an important shrine for them. Other than regular times, the times of Kali Puja are something when the whole community gets dressed in festivities. People from all across the city visit the temple during Diwali to pray at the temple. Other than the idol of Goddess Kali there are other smaller idols of the Goddess and an idol of Lord Shiva here as well. The evening aarti is one of the major attractions for this temple as the devotees burn candles made of paper to ward off the evil spirits. Also during the Chinese New Year the local Chinese devotees offer puja here.
The Kali Temple had earlier brought Kali idols separately for the Kali Puja a few years back in 2020 to 2022. But then they decided to worship the original in house deities here. They have also received some awards and trophies as well that they have displayed inside the temple. So if you are in Kolkata exploring its culture a visit to the Chinese Kali Temple would truly be exciting. You would get to enjoy a different essence of worshipping here. Also if you specifically visit here during the Kali Puja then the ambiance of the location would be even more enjoyable. So you can visit here during that time as well to enjoy a slice of cultural diversity.
Wrapping Up!
The true essence of the city of Kolkata lies in the fact that it is culturally so diversified. This is one of the locations in India where you will get to see instances of such cultural amalgamation. Moreover the city truly serves as a cultural melting pot where the different cultures and communities coexist. And if you are in Kolkata or visiting here then you must visit the Chinese Kali Bari to witness this mix of culture. Did you have an idea that there is a Kali Bari like this in the city before reading this article? And when are you planning a trip to the Chinese Kali Bari? Also let me know if this article on this Chinese Temple is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
